Horse hay-rake



UNITED f STATES:

PATENT ()FFIcE.

WALES ALDRICH, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

HORSE HAY-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 240,495, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed September-17, 188 0. (No model.) i

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, WALES ALDRICH, of Dayton, in the'county of Montgomery and ,State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Rakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in horse hay-rakes of that class known as 'selfdump rakes, in which the traction of the machine can be made to cause the elevation of the teeth and the discharge of the hay while the rake is advancing or turning in either direction and at the will of the operator.

The purpose of my invention is to simplify the construction of the rake and at the same time render itstrong, compact, and efficient.

The novelty eonsistsin the construction and mode of operation of the locking dogs or pawls, and their operating mechanism,and in other details of construction, all as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved rake. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same through the linear or of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the end of the rake-head, showing, in perspective, one of the ratchets and the inner side of the wheel-hub. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, in side elevation, through the latch and trip-arm. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the holding-down device. I

Corresponding letters of reference indicate like parts in all "the figures.

The frame-work of my rake is composed of the thillsA, cross-beams B and O, stripperbar D, and center brace, E, constructed and united in the usual or any suitable manner.

The rake-head F, which, in this instance, is also the axle, is a wooden beam having the rake-teeth G secured to it inany suitable manner, so as to rise and fall by its oscillation.

In the present illustration the teeth have their ends,which are bent downward, secured in mortises in the top of the rake-head, and are held therein bya superimposed bar,-H, covering the entire set, the mortises being 'so constructed as to allow the teeth vertical play, limited by the slots in the usual rear slotted bar, I, supported upon brackets J, as shown.

The cleaner-sticks K are inserted into the bar D, and extend rearward between the teeth,

as shown. l

The wheels L revolve upon spindles a, bolted to the under side of the rake-head in a mam nor to be hereinafter explained, and the thills and frame-work are connected to the rakehead by hinge-joints M, of any suitable construction, secured upon the under side of the head, as shown.

The seat and seat-beam h are attached to y the frame in the manner usual in this class of rakes. I

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the inner side of the wheel-huh of each wheel has a circular flange, b, which forms a cavity in the hub, and surrounding the aperture for' the spindle or stub-axle is a square or polygonal boss, 0, over which is slipped a ratchet-wheel,"

0. By means of the boss the ratchet is compelledto revolve with the wheel, and by this simple connection the construction of right and left ratchets is obviated, and in case of breakage a new ratchet may be applied witha circular plate with a flaring flange of the same diameter as the flange I) upon the wheelhubs. Theselast-mentioned plates abutagainst the ends of the rake-head, and from the rear side of this casting extend theintegralbraekets J, which support the slotted bar at its ends. The spindles a' are fitted into a gutter in the under face of a metal plate, f, which rests upon the under side of the rake-head at its ends, and has a forward perforated extension, g.

Now, to connect the shield-casting, the spin-,

die, and its;bearin g-plate f to the rake-head, I employ but two bolts, one of which, it, passes through the rear end of the spindle, the plate f, and the rake-head, and the other, 0', in the form of a letter J, which encompasses the spindle as a clip, with its shorter end passing through the extension 9 and its longer end up through the plate f, the rake-head, and the cap of the shield atj, Fig. 1. By this simple means a secure lock of the parts enumerated is effected.

Upon the top of the rake-head, at or about its middle, is bolted or screwed a casting, R, which is a flat plate having its front end turned up at l, and carrying bearing-ears m at its front corners and a socketed projection, 42, at its rear, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

In the socket of the projection 42 is a wedgeheaded follower or latch, p, with the head projected from the front of the socket by a coiled spring, 1. The wedge-head is set with its edge horizontal, and is prevented from turning in the socket. A pin or suitable stop at the rear of the follower prevents its withdrawal from the socket.

Passing through the bearing-ears m at the center and d at the ends of the rake-head is an oscillating metal rod, T, with its ends bent to form cranks s, as shown. Upon these cranks are slipped dogs U, which are straight pieces of metal rectangular in section, but with beveled noses to lit the shape of the ratchets with which they engage. These dogs pass down through openings at in the shields, and rest against shoulders or abutments 11, cast therewith, as seen in Fig. 3.

Upon the rod T, between the ears m, is rigidly bolted or otherwise fastened the operating-lever V, of the shape shown, having upon its rear side a V-shaped projection, c, of the same size as the V-shaped head of the latch 10, with which it engages, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2.

A chain, W, attached in any convenient way to the upper end of the lever V, extends -to the seat-beam,where itis likewise attached.

The holding-down device consists of an arm, A, pivoted at its lower end to the center brace, E, and inclining backward against the upper edge of the rake-head. The rear edge of this arm is serrated, as shown, to engage with a plate or projection, B, upon the rake-head. While thus engaged the rake cannot be oscillated, and the teeth are held down to working position. Upon the rod T is a cam projection or collar, 0, in line with the serrated lockingarm.

The operation of the rake is as follows; When the driver desires to discharge the collected load he presses with his foot upon the chain W, which draws forward the lever V and oscillates the rod T. This movement of the leverU presses back the spring-latch until the edges of the head of the latch and of the projection 0 pass each other, whereupon the latch is projected by its spring and completes the throw of the lever, while at the same time it serves to hold the lever in its adjusted position. The oscillation of the rod by the above throw of the lever carries with it the earn 0, which, in turning, throws the serrated arm A out of engagement with the plate B and frees the rake-head. The oscillation of the rod also, by the turning of the cranks at its ends, permits the dogs U to drop simultaneously into engagement with the ratchets, and thus locks the rake-head to the wheels, so

that as the machine advances or turns the head is tilted and the teeth elevated. Sufficient space is allowed in the shields to permit the dogs to swing back out of engagement, as'

either or both wheels turn backward while the dogs are down in looking position. When the teeth are sufficiently elevated the lever V strikes against an adjustable stop, X, upon the brace E, and is thrown back to its former position, carrying with it the rod and dogs,whic h are raised out of engagement and held so by the latchp bearing against the upper side of the projection c. The teeth and rake-head fall back by gravity to working position, and the arm A automatically relocks the head.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In a horse hay-rake, the combination,with an oscillating-rod having dogs pivoted upon its ends to engage with ratchets revolving with each of the wheels, and a lever or arm connected to said rod to cause its oscillation, of a V or wedge headed spring-latch adapted to engage with a V or wedge projection upon said lever or arm, whereby, when said lever or arm is drawn forward, the head of the latch engages with the projection upon the lever, to hold the dogs in engagement with the ratchets, and whereby, when said lever is pressed back, said latch re-engages the lever to hold the dogs out of engagement with the ratchets.

2. In a horse hay-rake, the ratchet-shields, spindle-bearing plates, and spindles, connected'to the rake-head and to each other by the bolts h and 1', connected and arranged in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALES ALDRICH.

. Witnesses:

P. H. G'UNOKEL, OHAs. M. PECK. 

